Ariel > Recent Status Updates

The appeal of the dystopian novel is normally the bits of relevance revealed by metaphors or outsized plot devices. This book, however, is not simply highly plausible, but truly an examination of our current circumstances, a dystopian present.

I don’t remember adding this to my “Currently Reading” books, as I don’t necessarily wish to broadcast that I’m reading this type of book. Had I read the summary of the plot, I would not have picked it up, but I enjoy the author’s observations on human interactions, so I’m sticking with it.

Having a hard time getting into this one. All the reviews I've read make me want to like Lauren Groff, so I'm sticking with it a bit longer, but I don't feel the magnetic pull from this book that I'd like to. May see if Florida is any different.

George Saunders is one of my favorite contemporary authors, so I purchased this as soon as it came out. I happened upon the audiobook at the library the other day, & almost passed it by, thinking it redundant when I own the book. But I picked it up & saw it was read by Nick Offerman & David Sedaris (among many others) and decided to check it out. I’m only on disc one of six, but I’m already enjoying it.

I love Jeffrey Eugenides, & I’ve been on a yearlong short story kick, so I was excited to read Fresh Complaint. The stories are quick reads, & several of them revisit characters from his other works. I look forward to him writing more in the future.